August 2025 Nancy Coblenz: Building Systems with Strategy and Sovereignty 2025 Most Influential CEO Awards Featuring Nancy Coblenz, CoFounder of Stellenium
Welcome to the August 2025 issue of CEO Monthly. We are pleased to bring a selection of news, features, and success stories to our readers around the world. We’re over half way through the year and 2025 has been an exciting time for many businesses and their dedicated CEOs as their goals are being met, and their missions are being adhered to for the greater good of their clients, associates, and industries. Our cover feature, Nancy Coblenz has been awarded for her expertise in the realm of digital marketing as her seasoned expertise positively impacts digital sovereignty. Furthermore, from contract management technology to real estate solutions, music licensing platforms to even more features on influential CEOs across an assortment of sectors, CEO Monthly is proud to present such a vibrant issue for August. We look forward to welcoming you back for our next issue in September, and we wish you a prosperous August ahead. Sofi Parry, Senior Editor Website: www.ceo-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. News 6. John Boyde: Building Trust, Taking Risks & Changing the Game in Sports Travel 8.Attracting and Retaining Top Talent: Why the War Is Won from the Inside Out 10. How I Built One of the UKs Top Marketing Data Companies in Five Years 11. Nancy Coblenz: Building Systems with Strategy and Sovereignty 12. SYNC IT: A Musician-Led Music-Licensing Platform for Brands and Agencies 13. UAV Latam: Empowering Businesses with Advanced Drone Solutions 14. Audet Magna: Dare to be Great with Audet Magna 15. Property Tree: Changing Real Estate Markers and Growing Communities in Hartbeespoort Contents
NEWS Apera AI Secures Series A Financing and Welcomes Four New Executives to Fuel Rapid Expansion New investment from BDC’s investment arm, BDC Capital, Lobby Capital, Flying Fish, and J-Ventures will accelerate Apera AI’s growth across international automotive, Tier 1 supplier, and industrial manufacturing sectors. Apera AI, the leader in 4D Vision for industrial robotic automation, announced the closing of an over-subscribed Series A financing round. The round includes a significant new investment from BDC’s investment arm, BDC Capital, Canada’s most active venture capital investor, alongside increased participation from existing investors Lobby Capital, Flying Fish Ventures, and J-Ventures. The capital will accelerate Apera AI’s rapid growth, enabling further investment in people, processes, and product innovation in 4D Vision technology for AI-powered robotic automation. New funding comes amid surging demand for robotic automation across global manufacturing. Apera AI is already experiencing nearly 3X year-over-year revenue growth and has established a strong customer base that includes all six major North American automotive OEMs, their Tier 1 suppliers, and more than 100 industrial manufacturers. “At BDC, we hold a firm belief that hard tech investments in industrial innovation are pivotal in fueling economic expansion and addressing future opportunities,” said Aditya Aggarwal, Managing Partner, Industrial Innovation Venture Fund, BDC Capital. “We see 4D Vision as transformative innovation for vision-guided robotics to unlock industrial manufacturing automation. The world’s top automotive manufacturers and dozens of global industrial companies already rely on Apera AI’s
J.McLaughlin is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Unis as Chief Executive Officer. Unis has served as Interim CEO since March 2025 and has been a member of the company’s Board of Directors, appointed by Brentwood Associates, since January 2025. In this new role, he will oversee all aspects of the business as he leads the brand into its next era of growth. With new leadership at the helm, J.McLaughlin is poised to refine its approach and build on its legacy, fueled by design, customer-centric strategies, and compelling brand storytelling. He will build on the strong foundation established by Kevin McLaughlin and the team, with a clear focus on amplifying the brand, expanding product offerings across women’s & men’s apparel and accessories, and deepening the brand’s longstanding connection with its loyal customer base. With nearly 200 stores and a growing digital presence, Unis aims to bring J.McLaughlin to more people while preserving its distinct character and community-driven spirit. “We’re entering a new era,” said Unis. “I’m honored to be part of the brand’s evolution. I look forward to introducing it to new audiences and continuing to delight our existing ones. Alongside Kevin and our incredible team, we’ll scale the business, drive creativity across all areas - product, marketing, and customer experience - and continue delivering on the timeless style and warm, personal service that define J.McLaughlin.” “Greg’s passion for design and brand-building make him the right leader for this pivotal moment,” said Kevin McLaughlin, Co-Founder of J.McLaughlin. “He understands what makes J.McLaughlin special and brings a fresh perspective to help us further engage with our customers and stay true to our roots.” “Greg’s seamless transition from Board member to CEO is a testament to his leadership, deep appreciation for product and design, and broad operational expertise,” said Steve Moore, Partner at Brentwood Associates. “We’re confident he will drive the business forward while honoring the brand’s heritage and unique identity.” Unis brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the fashion and retail industry, most recently serving as President of Victoria’s Secret and Pink. Before joining Victoria’s Secret in 2016, he held senior executive roles at Coach, Brooks Brothers, and Gap Inc., with a proven track record of success in merchandising, design, product, and global strategy. A seasoned, customer-focused executive, he combines business acumen with a deep passion for building brands and empowering teams. Greg Unis Named Chief Executive Officer of J.McLaughlin technology. We’re thrilled to invest in their future, and help create another Canadian champion.” As part of its expansion strategy, Apera AI has strengthened its executive leadership team with four new appointments. Peter Brouwer joins as Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Genèse Castonguay has been appointed Vice President of Marketing, Joseph Lee, CA joins as Chief Financial Officer, and Robert St-Jacques assumes the role of Vice President of People. Each brings extensive experience scaling highgrowth technology companies across AI, automation, and enterprise software. “This is an exciting time of growth at Apera AI,” said Sina Afrooze, CEO and Founder of Apera AI. “Our 4D Vision technology is solving robotic automation challenges that were previously impossible by unleashing the true power of AI for real-world manufacturing. With this infusion of capital and a world-class leadership team, we’re scaling our ability to serve the most advanced manufacturers in the world.” Solving Complex Automation Challenges with 4D Vision Apera AI’s patented 4D Vision platform combines cuttingedge 3D vision with AI—the “fourth dimension”—to give industrial robots human-like vision and advanced artificial intelligence. This enables high-speed, precise performance in applications such as bin picking, de-racking, and complex assembly. Unlike traditional 3D vision systems that often falter in real-world manufacturing, Apera AI’s 4D Vision is powered by AI and enables robots to adapt to shifting bins, changing lighting conditions, worn grippers, and complex part geometry—unlocking robot speed, accuracy, and reliability in the most demanding industrial settings. “Our customers aren’t just looking for tools—they’re looking for long-term partners who can scale with them,” said Brouwer, SVP of Global Sales. “Apera AI is uniquely positioned with the right technology, expertise, and now capital to meet that need. We’re doubling our sales team and opening a new office in Detroit this fall to be even closer to our customers in North America’s manufacturing heartland.” Making AI Invisible: No-Code Artificial Intelligence for the Factory Floor Apera AI’s ongoing product innovation focuses on making advanced automation accessible. Recent releases include no-code setup tools, AI-powered calibration, and real-time diagnostics—all designed to minimize deployment time and maximize operational reliability. “AI is most powerful when it’s invisible,” said Castonguay, VP of Marketing. “Manufacturers shouldn’t have to think about machine learning—Apera AI let’s engineers focus on production, uptime, and performance. Our mission is to make vision-guided robotic automation radically more accessible.” Built for Manufacturers, Backed by Experts With a growing team across North America and Europe, Apera AI has built a reputation for delivering outstanding engineering support, reliable deployments, and measurable ROI. The company’s partner-centric approach ensures that every deployment is aligned with production goals and delivers longterm value. “With global demand for intelligent automation at an all-time high, Apera AI’s Series A round marks a pivotal moment for the company—and a major leap forward for the industry,” said Buddy Arnheim, Founding Partner at Lobby Capital. “Apera AI is delivering not just a product, but a new standard for robotic vision in real-world manufacturing.”
John Boyde: Building Trust, Taking Risks & Changing the Game in Sports Travel
Forward Feature From humble beginnings and a simple idea, John Boyde has transformed his passion for sport and service into a thriving global business. As the founder behind Sports Entertainment Tours and Sports Pro Travel, John has built a reputation for delivering highly personalised experiences and dependable logistics for elite teams and fans alike. In this exclusive CEO Monthly Q&A, John shares the mindset, lessons, and bold decisions that shaped his journey, from launching during a pandemic to becoming a trusted name in the world of sports travel. 1. Your journey started with organising racecourse trips, what lessons from those early days still guide you today? That was my vision, but we actually only did our first racing trip this year. Always push boundaries and feel the fear and do it anyway. People need to trust a service; that trust can never be taken for granted, you have to earn it. Always be honest and ethical, manage expectations, and never over-promise and under-deliver. Clients will always respect the truth. Nurturing your clients is vital, but building strong partnerships is what I believe sets us apart from our competitors. 2. Launching Sports Entertainment Tours during a global pandemic was bold, what drove you to take that leap, and how did you navigate the risks? I was becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of excellence in service delivery in the industry. I knew I could do better. Just because values are listed on a website doesn’t mean they’re actually delivered — that was my experience. The risks were minimal because it started with just me in my kitchen. You can’t play it safe in business; risk is part of the journey, but mine are always rigorously assessed. I’m the first to admit when I don’t know something and have no problem asking for help from experts. Every day is a learning experience. Some risks have paid off, others haven’t, but I’ve always learnt what not to do next time. 3. From a startup to a global operation with major clients, what have been the key decisions behind your company’s rapid growth? Hiring staff based on attitude, not skill, is fundamental to our process. In my experience, you can teach skills, but you cannot teach attitude. Being authentic and genuinely caring will never go out of fashion in business. We’ve consistently pushed boundaries by offering something a little different. In the early days, I relentlessly connected with leaders in the industry, many of whom are now valued clients. Perseverance is key. No two days are the same, and it can be tough and lonely leading a business, but I view every day as a new opportunity. I’m optimistic, but also a realist. I approached sporting stars directly to host events with us. I never quite knew if they would respond, but they all did. I attribute this to us breaking the mould by creating bespoke events for our discerning clients. 4. You’re known for delivering exceptional, personalised experiences. How do you maintain that level of service at scale? Response times, the team knows one of my pet hates is a slow response. Curated events take time to build, but we always send an initial response, so the client knows we’re on it. If you onboard and train people properly, the rest will follow. Our onboarding process is constantly re-evaluated for improvement. We welcome feedback from both clients and the team. What can we do better? What have we learnt? This is a vital part of our service delivery. We will never become a call centre, we aim to offer a personalised service where we know our customers and their unique needs. We won’t hound them, and we’ll never try to sell them something they’ve clearly told us they’re not interested in. Listening — to both clients and employees — is essential for identifying both successes and areas for improvement. 5. What led to the creation of Sports Pro Travel, and how did you establish credibility so quickly in the professional sports space? I simply asked the Sports Director of our local ice hockey team, the Belfast Giants, if I could manage their travel. I had no idea how he would respond but if you don’t ask…. you will never know! Four years on, we’re now their official partner and a sponsor. As a result of our service delivery, we’re now the appointed travel partner for the Elite League and the official provider for 8 of the 10 teams across the UK. Moving teams and fans is challenging, but we offer a duty of care — now to 30 international teams across the UK and Ireland. 6. Managing travel for elite teams comes with pressure—what are the biggest challenges, and how do you ensure performance isn’t compromised? Their kit bags! One day it might be a triathlete with a large bike; the next day, a player might have a sudden injury requiring early departure. We need to be agile, responsive, and flexible. Sean, my business partner, and I — along with one of our Pro team — previously worked in 24/7 emergency travel support. Little fazes us. The team, managed by Catherine, knows the drill and risk-assesses every trip. That means we always have a plan B. It takes time but having multiple alternative options in place before any trip ensures we stay calm and measured in our approach. 7. What’s your leadership style, and how do you build and sustain a strong, motivated team across both businesses? I always aim to lead by example. I trust the team and always try to be fair. It’s a cliché, but I wouldn’t ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do myself. I try to be kind, give people autonomy, and maintain transparency. I regularly share my vision to empower others and help them feel ownership of their divisions. Enjoying the journey is key, life is too short not to love what you do. Humour goes a long way too, we laugh a lot. I carry out regular check-ins with the teams. I strive not to create a hierarchical environment, and although every day is busier, I always make myself available. 8. Trust is a huge part of your brand. How do you earn and retain it in such a competitive industry? Being a good listener earns trust. I’ve sat in so many meetings where people go straight into a sales pitch, but how can you sell something without first understanding what the client actually needs? Retaining clients is about service levels. Some of our competitors don’t even advertise phone numbers. Our mantra is: pick up the phone. When problems arise, face them head-on. Some issues are beyond our control, but how you handle the outcome is key to retention. Communicate, every step of the way, to keep clients informed. It’s simple, but so many don’t do it. 9. What trends or innovations are you watching in sports and entertainment travel, and how are you preparing for the future? With social media evolving so fast, we’re seeing a trend towards intimate event experiences. That’s why we now offer smaller gala events with world-renowned athletes before and after major matches. One of the great things about these events is that athletes make superb business mentors, they understand the self-discipline it takes to be elite in any field. 10. Looking back, what advice would you give to entrepreneurs starting with just an idea and limited resources—like you once did? Never give up. The school of hard knocks is tough, and rejection is hard, but I consciously reset every single day and never dwell on the past. There was a time I worried about things I couldn’t control. Now, I address things as they arise and don’t live my life around “what ifs.” I like to think I have no ego, and I’m never afraid to ask someone I admire and respect for help.
Attracting and Retaining Top Talent: Why the War Is Won from the Inside Out By Kate Davis, an award-winning Executive coach and Founder of Meraki People: www.merakipeople.co.uk
Forward Feature The phrase “war for talent” is everywhere - and yet, many organisations are still looking in the wrong place. This isn’t just about filling roles or keeping headcount stable. It’s about whether your business is equipped to consistently attract, develop and retain the kind of people who’ll shape your future success. More often than not, it’s not your recruitment strategy that holds the key, it’s your leadership. When strong candidates drop out late in the process, when talented people leave “unexpectedly,” or when your top performers start to disengage, it’s rarely a market issue, it’s a signal. One that often points inward. The companies building long-term advantage in this space aren’t doing so through flashy employer branding or bumper pay packets. They’re doing it by getting the fundamentals right - clarity, alignment and leadership that actually feels like leadership. What’s Really Driving the Talent Challenge? There’s no shortage of talented people. What’s in shorter supply is the kind of workplace that earns their commitment. Candidates today are more discerning, more intentional and more likely to walk away from environments that feel unclear or unbalanced. They’re looking for purpose and progression, but also for integrity. It matters whether the day-to-day reality of your culture matches what’s promised at the interview. And they can usually tell within weeks - sometimes days - when it doesn’t. What’s changed isn’t people’s willingness to work. It’s their unwillingness to tolerate disconnect, bureaucracy, or being underled. This is especially acute in founder-led, service-based businesses where culture has typically grown organically. In the early days, strong working relationships and shared values carry things forward, but once the business scales past 30, 50, or 100 people - that cultural clarity starts to blur. Communication splinters and behavioural standards drift. What was once intuitive becomes inconsistent and that shift is felt fastest by your highest performers. Culture Isn’t the Issue - Culture Without Visibility Is No one in senior leadership thinks culture doesn’t matter anymore. It’s well understood as a lever for performance, retention and reputation. The challenge isn’t about valuing culture - it’s about being able to see it clearly when you’re immersed in it every day. Most leaders are too close to spot the slow shifts: the drift from accountability, the subtle changes in how feedback is given (or avoided), the growing gap between stated values and lived behaviours. When culture problems emerge, they rarely shout, they whisper; in team dynamics, missed deadlines, slow decision-making, or high-performing individuals who suddenly seem “off.” Without that visibility, even the most wellintentioned leaders find themselves stuck. They know something isn’t working, but can’t quite name what. Yet you can’t fix what you can’t see. What High-Retention Businesses Do Differently 1. They define and reinforce what ‘good’ looks like In growing businesses, especially those moving fast, clarity often gets sacrificed for pace. But high performers need structure as much as autonomy. They want to know what’s expected of them - in results, yes, but also in behaviour and contribution. Great organisations make these expectations explicit. They establish and model what “good” looks like, not as a set of vague values, but as clear standards that guide decisions and behaviours across the business. This helps prevent drift and protects against unfairness or inconsistency, which are major drivers of disengagement. Clarity doesn’t restrict people; it anchors them. 2. They actively develop their leaders - at every level People don’t leave companies; they leave environments where leadership is absent, inconsistent, or ineffective. And in most cases, that environment is shaped not by the CEO, but by their direct line manager. Middle and senior managers play a critical role in retention, yet they’re often promoted for technical excellence rather than people capability. They’re expected to hold performance, develop others and maintain morale - often without training, time, or support. Unfortunately, some of those ‘technical’ senior managers are not living the company values and their poor behaviour, or performance as managers is ignored by their seniors. As the old adage goes “the standard you walk past is the standard you accept”. Sometimes it’s also the standard you become, as an organisation. High-performing organisations recognise that leadership isn’t instinctive. They invest in it early and often. Not through one-off courses, but through regular development that strengthens communication, feedback, trust-building and conflict resolution. These aren’t soft skills, they’re performance tools. And when leaders are well supported, they’re more confident, consistent and trusted - all of which improves retention across the board. 3. They invest in teams - not just individuals Most recruitment efforts focus on the person. But most retention problems show up in the team. You can hire brilliantly, but if teams are misaligned, poorly structured, or under strain, even your best hires will underperform. Talent thrives in healthy teams - ones that have a shared purpose, psychological safety and a way to resolve issues without blame or avoidance. Strong businesses treat team performance as a discipline. They assess team dynamics regularly, create shared language and develop ways of working that support clarity and cohesion. They focus on rhythm and accountability. They pay attention to how decisions are made, not just who’s making them. Because in the end, people don’t stay because of free lunches or job titles. They stay because the team around them works. Retention Isn’t About Holding On - It’s About Setting People Up to Flourish If someone is staying simply because the job market is tough or the benefits are good, that’s not retention, that’s delay. The organisations that genuinely retain top talent create the conditions for people to thrive. Not through perfection, but through purposeful leadership. People stay when they feel stretched, seen and supported. When they trust their manager, feel proud of their team and see a future they’re part of shaping. That kind of environment doesn’t happen by default. It’s a direct result of clear leadership and cultural intentionality. A Final Thought If attracting and retaining great people has become harder, it’s worth looking beyond the usual explanations. Ask yourself: • Would I choose to work here, if I were starting again today? • Would I recommend this environment to someone I deeply respect? Would I want my kids to work here? Are we growing in a way that brings clarity - or are we starting to lose coherence? Talent doesn’t disappear, but it does pay attention. And the best people will quietly walk away from misalignment long before they raise it out loud. The organisations that win the so-called “talent war” aren’t the ones with the flashiest culture decks. They’re the ones who lead visibly, act clearly and build environments where great people can do great work - and know they’re part of something that matters.
By Adam Herbert, CEO & Co-founder, Go Live Data For Adam Herbert, launching Go Live Data in 2020 wasn’t a canny business move it was a necessity. After years in the industry, he saw a sector in decline: noisy, volumeobsessed marketing that left recipients disillusioned and businesses underwhelmed. Alongside co-founder Tim Langley, Adam set out to do something radically different and to treat the inbox with respect. While it hasn’t always been plain sailing, he’s learned a lot on his journey. Here he discusses the highs and the lows of running a business that, five years on, is competing with the industry’s biggest players. When we started Go Live Data back in 2020, it wasn’t because we fancied launching another martech business. It was a response to a problem that had been growing for years. Marketing had become (and still is) a mess of noise and numbers. Everyone is chasing leads at all costs, sending the same email to thousands of people, crossing their fingers and hoping for the best. The recipient (which, lest we all forget, is an actual human on the other end) has become an afterthought. And in all of that, trust was disappearing. So, we set out to build something better. Something that put respect, relevance, and real intelligence back at the heart of marketing. Starting with the ‘why’ I’ve worked in data and marketing for over 20 years. But the spark started much earlier when I was 16, building a local business directory to rival Yell.com. I didn’t have the language for it back then, but what I was really doing was trying to make outreach more natural and useful. Go Live Data was built on that same instinct – that marketing should be about earning attention, not just grabbing it. Pelting someone’s inbox is obviously annoying (I’m sure most of us have been on the receiving end) but worse than that is the fact it simply isn’t very effective. From day one, our mission was clear: put the recipient first, build the tech to support it, and prove that you can drive performance without compromising principles. Building differently What’s made us successful isn’t what we believe, it’s what we’ve built. We introduced Frequency Rules: a framework to stop brands over-communicating and help them get their timing right. We built Go Track to move beyond surfacelevel metrics and understand how people really behave across a website – not just who clicked, but who stayed, explored, and showed signs of intent. And because no one else in the market had what we needed, we built our own EMS (Email Marketing System) from scratch; one that respects frequency, prioritises education, and actually works in tandem with our data principles. We also refresh our data every 30 days (rather than every 12 months like the rest of the industry) because the only company that has the exact same staff in the exact same roles 12 months down the line is your local family-owned chippy. Alongside Go Data and Go Track, we now offer nine services in total. Each works powerfully on its own, but they’re designed to work even better together, sharing insight, optimising performance, and delivering campaigns that actually land. We take all of this, and we bake it all into a way of working that’s genuinely different. Over 80% of the content we create with clients is educational. We don’t just help them generate leads – we help them earn interest. Real, qualified, long-term interest. That’s what we call marketing with intent. The lessons in between It’s not all been smooth sailing. In fact, some of the hardest parts have been the most valuable. I’ve learned how hard it is to scale without losing sight of what you stand for. I’ve had to move from How I Built One of the UKs Top Marketing Data Companies in Five Years founder to CEO – from being hands-on in everything, to building a team that could take the vision further than I ever could alone. That meant tough decisions, like parting ways with talented people who weren’t the right cultural fit. But we’ve come out stronger. We’ve also tried to build a business that works for real people – our clients and our team. That’s meant being flexible, listening more, and creating space for neurodiverse ways of working (my cofounder Tim being a prime example of the strengths that can bring). What’s next Five years later and we’re working with brands like Amazon Business and AXA Health. We’ve acquired MIB, a respected automotive data company, which has allowed us to add the best fleet data in the UK into our ecosystem. We’re live in five markets and preparing to open a US office. We’re scaling fast but still questioning everything as we go. I’m always cautious to make sure I’m not just mindlessly chasing growth. I don’t want to lose sight of what Go Live Data is all about: showing that marketing can be smarter, data can be cleaner, and outreach can be done in a way that actually works for everyone – the sender and recipient.
CEO MONTHLY / AUGUST 2025 11 Nancy Coblenz: Building Systems with Strategy and Sovereignty Nancy Coblenz is a visionary leader redefining what digital sovereignty means in the 21st century. As Co-Founder and President of Stellenium, she is pioneering sovereign AI infrastructure at an unrivalled scale, empowering governments to take control of their digital futures. Responsible for the global growth, policy alignment, and strategic execution of Stellenium’s sovereign technology initiatives, Nancy works directly with heads of state, ministries, and internal leadership to translate vision into deployable, scalable infrastructure. A first generation EgyptianAmerican, Nancy grew up understanding both the power and limitations of systems. She began her entrepreneurial journey by building a spatial computing company focused on immersive technology and enterprise innovation. From there, Nancy became the youngest executive at a private equity firm, where she was able to scale multiple portfolio companies and fine tune her expertise in operational and digital transformation. She later served as Head of Marketing for a multibillion-dollar global workforce solutions provider, where she led the advancement of 12 business units across international markets. “My next chapter was founding MyBrand AI, a consulting and implementation firm focused on AI strategies for emerging markets,” she told us. “That is where the seeds of Stellenium were born. The constant thread through my work has been this: technology should not be defined by who has control over it, but by who it truly empowers. The future belongs to the builders of systems that shift power, not just tools. Stellenium is my blueprint for that future.” At Stellenium, Nancy fosters what she refers to as a “sovereign culture model,” one wherein the team localises decision-making, encourages intellectual sovereignty, and rewards impact over optics. She is deeply embedded in the global culture, operational frameworks, and community building efforts of sovereign infrastructure; from codesigning policy with ministries to mentoring local leaders, Nancy’s role is to ensure that every initiative reflects not only technical excellence but also socioeconomic relevance. Sovereign infrastructure is still an emergent category, and Stellenium has been faced with the pressing challenge of building a shared understanding among governments, investors, and international partners of why infrastructure ownership is not only technical, but profoundly political, economic, and generational. Through these efforts, Stellenium is pioneering a new industry of autonomous infrastructure operations. “In the age of AI, who owns the rails determines who writes the rules, and who benefits from them,” Nancy explained. “Too many still see infrastructure as a behind-the-scenes utility rather than the strategic backbone of national resilience, digital equity, and long-term autonomy. We’re not just redefining what infrastructure is, we’re reshaping who it serves and how it is governed.” That being said, Nancy cites one of the most powerful opportunities that has arisen on her journey is one that she experiences daily due to her work in sovereign infrastructure: co-creating entirely new governance, education, and infrastructure models with national ministries and global stakeholders. Rather than merely participating in the establishment of a new industry, Stellenium allows Nancy and her team to personally pioneer the category of sovereign private cloud computing infrastructure. For Stellenium, this means shaping the rules, the roles, and the systems from the ground up. The experience of building AI and tech-powered ecosystems that unify policy, talent systems, and sovereign infrastructure to support these efforts has pushed Nancy to grow beyond operational leadership into sovereign diplomacy and decade-long systems design, evolving into a transformational leader, tech visionary, and global strategist who has earned the well-deserved title of California’s Most Influential AI & Infrastructure CEO 2025. “What makes this work exceptional is the calibre of strategic partners, thought leaders, and government allies who have walked with us to bring a once-in-a-generation technological shift to life,” she reflected. “In this space, there is no playbook- only trust, vision, and action. And that is where I thrive, at the edge of what has not been built yet, where every decision shapes a future we all share.” Contact: Nancy Coblenz Company: Stellenium Corporation Web Address: www.stellenium.com Jul25228 Stellenium was founded in 2024, born from the frustration of infrastructure complexity and a vision of a world where technology truly serves humanity. With the belief that infrastructure should empower innovation without constraint, the company is building an autonomous infrastructure platform that understands your business, anticipates your needs, and evolves with your ambitions. Leading this charge is Nancy Coblenz, Co-Founder and President of Stellenium, who is the recipient of Most Influential CEO 2025 - AI & Infrastructure (California) in the Most Influential CEO Awards 2025. We spoke with Nancy below to learn more about her inspirational journey.
CEO MONTHLY / AUGUST 2025 12 Few CEOs come into the business world with a VMA, two Brit Award nominations, and more than twobillion streams to their name – but then Nathan Duvall is not like most CEOs. His background in music spans more than a decade writing, producing, and performing, giving him the ability to understand just how powerful a song or a piece of music can be when it connects to the perfect moment or the right audience. Every artist spends their life in pursuit of the high this connection brings about, but Nathan has seen first-hand the countless missed opportunities faced by these professionals when it comes to licensing and sync. Nathan told us: “I’ve seen tracks sit on hard drives that could’ve changed someone’s career, if only the right person had heard them.” He continued: “SYNC IT was born from that frustration. I wanted to build a smarter, faster, more artist-focused way for music to find its place in media and culture.” Leveraging his background to help build a bridge between creativity and commercialism, what Nathan has created is a music-licensing platform that genuinely works for people who make music. Helping unlock the true value of this most beautiful medium, the platform works by connecting independent artists and those who hold the rights to their music with brands, agencies, and media producers from across the world. This is achieved through a blend of curated licensing, instant search, and custom composition. Going a step further, Nathan explained: “SYNC IT isn’t a stock library and it’s not a free-forall marketplace. It’s an invite-only, artist-first ecosystem. We prioritise quality over volume, accuracy over guesswork, and cultural depth over surface-level trends. Our catalogue is handpicked. Our results are built on real connection.” As a result of this I think SYNC IT offers something truly unique in a bloated and unclear space. Across his role as CEO, Nathan is responsible for leading the creative vision and commercial strategy of the company, fortifying the bridges he built when initially establishing SYNC IT. The hands-on approach Nathan employs sees him stay close to the tech teams behind this bespoke music for brands, shaping how the platform evolves. At the same time, he remains in constant conversation with artists, brands, and agencies to understand where the industry A Musician-Led MusicLicensing Platform for Brands and Agencies A member of the band Disciples (most famous for their collaboration with Calvin Harris on the hit ‘How Deep is Your Love?’), Nathan Duvall collaborated with artists such as David Guetta, performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and collaborated with Netflix on the acclaimed series Bridgerton before turning to business. Creating SYNC IT in 2023 to make licensing music as intuitive and inspiring as the music itself, Nathan’s work has more than earned him the title of Most Influential CEO 2025 – Music Licensing (London). We caught up with Nathan for more. is going and how SYNC IT can arrive there ahead of it. This is reflected in Nathan’s philosophy: Keep things moving. Build fast. Stay sharp. Don’t wait for permission. Elaborating on this, Nathan commented: “Its about action, not endless theory. Leadership for me is about energy. Creating the kind of environment where great people can do their best work and feel like they’re building something that matters.” Nathan therefore leads like a music producer – bringing the right people together, setting the tempo, and then orchestrating something special. With Nathan as their leader, the team behind SYNC IT – which comprises people passionate about writing and creating music – possess a synergy. An unspoken bond. This is especially true of the dynamic between Nathan, Patrick Patrikios, and Rav Kumar, who bring a combination of eccentric creativity and razor-sharp execution to the table. These deep-rooted human relationships are what set the company apart. As AI-generated music continues to garner traction in this space and create sounds that do a good job filling a gap in the silence and nothing more, SYNC IT recognises that brands want real music for adverting use. As Nathan put it: “The more noise AI creates; the more valuable real music becomes.” In this way, the platform allows artists with unreleased music who have never played a show before to become the soundtrack to a global campaign. Streamlining the process of licensing music to support everything from film and television to video games and branded content, SYNC IT hosts unreleased music from artists as well as his own Disciples catalogue which includes works with Calvin Harris, David Guetta and more. With companies like L’Oreal and Red Bull already on board, there has never been a better time for businesses to show their support for real music by collaborating with this creative music-licensing service to deliver custom music for their next project. F Contact: Nathan Duvall Company: SYNC IT Web Address: https://syncit.ac/
CEO MONTHLY / AUGUST 2025 13 Empowering Businesses with Advanced Drone Solutions UAV Latam is a leading drone-operations company based in Latin America, where it has a presence in eight nations. The company’s mission is to harness the power of drone technology and AI-based data to deliver innovative and impactful solutions across everything from cargo logistics and medical delivery to security, defense, and construction. Recognised as the Most Influential CEO 2025 – Aerospace & Defence (Latin America) in this feature, we caught up with UAV Latam’s own Juan Bergelund for more about his role in the company. Latin America’s premier integrator of technological solutions for the purposes of security, defence, and monitoring across both open spaces and infrastructure, UAV Latam blends drones and AI to create unparalleled experiences for its customers. By focusing on both safety and efficiency, UAV Latam has almost singlehandedly taken the regional drone market to new heights, with its blend of cutting-edge solutions and local expertise making it a go-to provider for Latin American businesses. Regardless of whether it is carrying out anti-drone security, permitter/tactical surveillance, volume/slope monitoring, or supporting with precision agriculture, what drives UAV Latam is the same across the board: to be the very best. The company’s values also reflect this, encompassing quality, environmental responsibility, integrity, inclusivity, and a customer-first agility. These have laid the foundation for continuous growth since the company opened its doors and nurtured a diverse client base. There to oversee much of this development has been CEO Juan Bergelund, who got his start in the company as the CEO of its division in Peru. Six years later, Juan’s excellent track record resulted in him being made the CEO of UAV Latam’s entire operation, a job he excels at given his decades of experience working in such fields as defence and space manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing, and telecommunications. This knowledge also paved the way for UAV Latam’s own growth. Exploring this further, Juan told us: “What began as a focused drone venture in one market evolved into a multinational drone-as-a-service platform, now operating in several countries across Latin America.” Juan continued: “I led the expansion of our business model beyond aerial photography into areas such as long-range cargo logistics, defense , intelligence, perimeter control, infrastructure inspections, and more.” Given the diversity inherent within this organisation, it is unsurprising that Juan himself has a multidimensional role, with his responsibilities including bridging visionary leadership with operational execution. On one day, Juan might be continuing to drive UAV Latam’s strategic roadmap across its nine locations. The next, he may be championing technology integration, attracting new investors, or acting as the public face of the company through corporate-level talks with ministries or corporate partners. Juan’s ability to do this so well comes from a combination of his presence at the intersection of technology and regional purpose and an entrepreneurial drive. This regional focus is especially important when it comes to UAV Latam, which prides itself on delivering cutting-edge technologies capable of solving the complex problems facing businesses in these communities today. It not only solves these challenges but does so in ways that prioritise responsibility, sustainability, and scalability. The team behind UAV Latam make all of this possible, with Juan explaining that the company’s greatest asset is not its drones, but rather the people who design, fly, and fix them and analyse their data. Combined, these experts deliver aerospacegrade professionalism to Latin American businesses, and this requires the fostering of a very intentional culture. As Juan explained: “Building a resilient drone company in Latin America isn’t just about flying smart, it’s also about leading by example.” Leading by example is something UAV Latam remains committed to as it looks ahead to the next 12 months, a period Juan believes will be pivotal in its growth due to its model becoming more impactful and autonomous day by day. A number of initiatives are also in the pipeline to support the company in its ambitious aim to build the future of the entire airspace infrastructure and data ecosystem in Latin America, from expansion into the energy sector to upgrading its fleet and exploring new partnerships. All of this ties into Juan’s plans for his own next steps, which revolve around this same selfless aim. Juan said: “My next chapter isn’t about titles – it’s about multiplying impact. I want to take everything UAV Latam has proven and scale it into something even more transformative for the region and the world.” Ultimately, UAV Latam is much more than just a drone company, it is about delivering expert-level solutions to areas in which they were previously out of reach. By grounding its innovation in a regional reality and nurturing the human side of a technology business, Juan has built something truly transformative. Company: UAV Latam Web Address: https://uavlatam.com/ Jun25189
CEO MONTHLY / AUGUST 2025 14 Driving improved business performance through the power of cloud-based contract management solutions, Audet Magna recognises that agreements are the driving force behind operational success – particularly in today’s interconnected environments – and therefore strives to help its clients make the most out of them. The company’s mission to be the best in the world when it comes to organisational transformation through contract management technology is something wholly embodied by its CEO, Nick Vat. When Nick Vat co-founded Audet Magna, the company which he is also the CEO of, back in 2018, his mission was to help organisations recognise the endless stream of benefits that come from integrating agreement cloud technologies into their operations. More than seven years later, Audet Magna is a leading specialist in DocuSign solutions for DocuSign customers all over the world, and Nick has been recognised as the Most Influential CEO 2025 – Contract Management Technology (UK). Working as both a lecturer in information systems at Rhodes University in South Africa and as a self-employed strategy consultant and change manager building businesses across both the public and private sectors before starting his journey with Audet Magna, Mark’s diverse experiences in this space have proven instrumental in his success. This is not only the case regarding his expertise and knowledge, but also the skills it takes to be a leader, such as building a vision, nurturing growth, and ensuring teams are aligned. In the case of Audet Magna, everyone works towards answering the same question for their clients: “How can eSignature, contract lifecycle management (CLM), and contract analytics tools help us uncover the hidden games in our contracts and contracting processes?” The same can also be said of the inevitable followup: “How much revenue growth, cost and risk reduction, and increased customer/supplier satisfaction can we realise?” By deploying a robust approach across every stage of the process – from strategy to delivery – Audet Magna helps its clients benefit from these solutions by leveraging a customer-centric nature, both as an organisation and in the way it delivers these transformations. Nick and the team have seen first-hand that the best changes only come about when companies possess a crystal-clear understanding of what truly matters, and that is why they offer everything from professional services to products, packages, and prebuilt solutions. Over the past seven years or so, Nick and co. have helped many organisations to improve their operations through the use of these DocuSign and CLM solutions, with success stories stemming from the likes of an oil and gas supermajor, one of the largest consumer goods companies on the planet, and a global computer/online gaming company. This is not to say that these solutions are exclusively for bigger organisations, as plenty of SMEs have also benefited from the tailored approach Audet Magna is renowned for. Widely seen to be ‘leading the way’ as a result of its work with these clients, just one example of the fantastic work Audet Magna is doing was seen a little over two years ago in early 2023, when it orchestrated a world-first project in this space. Going from kick-off to user go-live in just five days, this full DocuSign CLM design was made possible via the company’s FlowSymmetry Configurator, a suite of out-of-the-box configurations and a workflow framework built entirely on the DocuSign foundation. Audet Magna’s proficiency with the DocuSign system is reflected through it being one of the brand’s Platinum Partners, which sits right alongside its 96% customer advocacy score on the list of its distinguishing factors. Nick himself is another such factor, and his hands-on involvement in every level of the company – from supporting recruitment to partaking in key events across the UK and beyond that Audet Magna is sponsoring or featured at – has helped Audet Magna establish itself as a human-led, peoplefirst operation. Reaching for the sky so that its clients may do the same, Audet Magna is certainly Nick’s crowning achievement and an incredible source of pride for partner DocuSign. Be it through the holistic approach it takes to maximising value, the streak of innovation seen in it turning a project around in just five days, or its pursuit of perfection in the ever-evolving field of contract management technology, Audet Magna is changing the game. Named in this feature as the Most Influential CEO 2025 – Contract Management Technology (UK), Nick Vat’s influence can not only be felt across Audet Magna, but also throughout the CLM industry as a whole. More information about the fantastic work he and the team do can be found on the company’s website, the link to which is listed below. Contact: Nick Vat Company: Audet Magna Web Address: www.audetmagna.co.uk Dare to be Great with Audet Magna
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